U.S. Pat. No. 9,415,305

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for adapting game difficulty through dynamic map generation in a multi-player gaming environment. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, player in a multi-player gaming environment can be identified and a data store of player loss data can be accessed to determine at least one characteristic of a dynamically generated map correlated to the player or a group of players having previously performed poorly in playing in the multi-player gaming environment. In response to identifying one or more characteristics of the dynamically generated map correlated to the player or group of players having previously performed poorly in playing in the multi-player gaming environment, the dynamically generated map can be modified to de-emphasize, reduce or other eliminate the identified characteristics from the dynamically generated map.

In further illustration,FIG. 1is a pictorial illustration of a process for adapting game difficulty through dynamic map generation in a multi-player gaming environment. As shown inFIG. 1, different players120A,120B in a multi-player gaming environment110can interact with one another in a dynamically generated game map160in a multi-player gaming environment110. A particular player120A amongst the players120A,120B can be identified and in response thereto, a data store of correlated failure characteristics130can be consulted. In this regard, within the data store130the identity140of the particular player120can be correlated to one or more features150of the multi-player gaming environment110, for example a specific topographical feature or geographic feature. Thereafter, the multi-player gaming environment110can modify the correlated features150of the dynamically generated game map160, for example by reducing the prominence or presence of the features150in the dynamically generated game map160, or by outright removing the features150from the dynamically generated game map160.

The process described in connection withFIG. 1can be implemented within a multi-player gaming data processing system. In yet further illustration,FIG. 2schematically shows a multi-player gaming data processing system configured for adapting game difficulty through dynamic map generation. The system can include multiple different client computers210, each with memory and at least one processor communicatively coupled over computer communications network230to a host computer250also with memory and at least one processor. The host computer250can include a multi-player game server260executing in the memory of the host computer250. The multi-player game sever260can provide a multi-player gaming environment in which different players interact through game clients220executing in respective ones of the client computers210.

Of note, a dynamic map generator270can be coupled to the multi-player game server260. The dynamic map generator270can be configured to dynamically generate different game maps for the different game clients220. Specifically, the dynamic map generator270can dynamically generate portions of the multi-player gaming environment for individual ones of the players relevant to a current position of the individual ones of the players in the multi-player gaming environment. In this way, each player interacting with the multi-player gaming environment can receive only a game map corresponding to a position of the player in the multi-player gaming environment.

Of note, a game difficulty adaptation module280can be coupled to the dynamic map generator270. The game difficulty adaptation module280can include program code that when executed in the memory of the host computer250can identify a player interacting with the multi-player gaming environment through a game client220. Responsive to the identification of the player, a data store of player loss data240can be consulted to determination of one or more features of the multi-player gaming environment correlating to the known performance of the identified player. Exemplary performance correlating to features of the multi-player gaming environment includes the elimination of the player from the game, or a portion of the game, or the defeat of the player in the game by another player. Likewise, exemplary features include topographical features of the multi-player gaming environment such as the presence and size of rivers, lakes or mountains, or geographic features of the multi-player gaming environment such as the presence and placement of buildings, streets and trees.

Subsequent to the determination of one or more features of the multi-player gaming environment correlating to the known performance of the identified player, the program code of the game difficulty adaptation module280can direct the dynamic map generator270to modify a dynamically generated map corresponding to the identified player so as to adjust the presence or absence of the features. For instance, the identified features can be weighted more heavily or less heavily than other features so as to reduce or increase the presence of the features, or to eliminate the features from the multi-player gaming environment. In this way, the difficulty of the game can be dynamically adapted through the generation of the map for the player according to the known correlation between the performance of the player and the features of the map.

In even yet further illustration of the operation of the game difficulty adaptation module280,FIG. 3is a flow chart illustrating a process for adapting game difficulty through dynamic map generation in a multi-player gaming environment. Beginning in block310, a player in the multi-player gaming environment can be identified and in block320, failure data320can be located within a data store for the identified player. In block330, the failure data330can be correlated to one or more features of the multi-player gaming environment, such as topographical or geographical features of a dynamic generated map in the multi-player gaming environment.

In block340, one or more of the features can be modified within the multi-player gaming environment. In this regard, in sub-step340A, one or more of the features can be weighted to make the feature more likely to be excluded from the multi-player gaming environment. As another alternative, in sub-step340B one or more of the features can be weighted to make the feature more likely to be included in the multi-player gaming environment. As even yet another alternative, in sub-step340C one or more of the features can be directly excluded from the multi-player gaming environment. In either circumstance, once the feature or features of the multi-player gaming environment have been modified, in block350the modified multi-player gaming environment can be activated for use by the player.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, radiofrequency, and the like, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language and conventional procedural programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention have been described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. For instance, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It also will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Finally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows: